Mom digs daughters' digs

MISHAWAKA -- All Karen Mischler ever wanted for her daughters is that they find a passion in their lives. That the passion just happened to be volleyball was a bonus for mom. Mischler, whose maiden name is Karen Bauters, played the game. She was good in an era before club teams gave young girls the opportunity to work at the game year-round. Bauters was an outside hitter who helped Marian High School to a couple sectional championships before she graduated in 1982 and earned a scholarship to play at Notre Dame. A dislocated shoulder her sophomore year at Notre Dame ended her playing career. Two daughters at Marian, freshman setter Katie and sophomore back row specialist Renee, have jump-started her new career as her girls' biggest fan. Being a fan will be fun this weekend when the Knights head to Indianapolis for the Class 3-A state finals. "I'm so excited because going to the state finals is something I never got to do," said Karen, a CPA who works part-time for her husband David at Daman Products in Mishawaka. "It's tough to watch a game as a parent. You're always so nervous for your kid." Make that "times two" for Karen. Renee, 5-foot-7, in her second year on the Marian varsity, spends a good portion of the match on the bench before being thrust in a defensive environment where few errors are tolerated. "I can't make a mistake," Renee said. "If I do, there's a good chance I'll get pulled. You learn to live with it after a while." At a slender 5-9, Katie is a good size for a setter. She learned the position during her club season last year, then found a spot in the right place at the right time for Knights coach Dan Anderson. "It was a timing thing for Katie," Karen said. "They had some people change positions and the spot opened up. I'm proud of the way she's handled things." Katie has made the most of the opportunity. "Sometimes it's hard to be the youngest," soft-spoken Katie said. "My teammates have helped me a lot. I usually don't feel intimidated." While the injury at the peak of her playing career "devastated" Karen, it didn't sour her toward the game. She knew what benefits it offered and the lessons that could be learned. She got her daughters involved at the club level in fourth grade. "Volleyball was good, but it could have been anything," said Karen. "I just want my kids to have a passion in their lives. Whether it's volleyball, softball, music, or anything -- I just want them to have something they can care deeply about. I know what it meant to me." "My mom's been my role model," said Renee, who also plays on the Marian varsity softball team. "Katie and I are a lot like her. We're all pretty quiet. People tell me when my mom played, she was pretty loud and intense on the court. That part's still coming." "It's nice to have someone at home who can talk to me about the game," Katie said. "If I'm struggling, she will talk with me and tell me what I'm doing wrong - but in a nice way." "I've learned not to say too much," Karen said. "I'll let the coaches do the directing, and I'll just be their mother. Sometimes they need that more than anything." But it also can be handy to have a mom who knows the difference between a 6-2 and a 5-1 alignment. "I've heard a lot of people tell me how she played, but I've never really seen her do it," Renee said of her mom. "She knows the game and she knows what we're going through." Until now. This whole state thing is uncharted waters, even for a veteran like Karen.